Washington (CNN) - Sarah Palin issued a warning to Mitt Romney Saturday, calling on the former Massachusetts governor to do a better job explaining his record to conservatives or risk dampening voter turnout in November if he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

In an interview with CNN and The New York Times before her speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Palin said she was confused by Romney’s declaration here on Friday that he was a “severely conservative Republican.”

She said Romney and his two main rivals - Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich - should be given time to explain the flaws in their record until the Republican National Convention in August, when she said the nomination fight could ultimately be decided.

But Romney may have the hardest sale to make, she said, asking him to explain his “shifts in ideology” since he left the Massachusetts governorship.

“You have to have the tea party patriots enthused and energized in order to win this nomination, and more importantly in order to defeat Barack Obama,” Palin argued.

If conservatives are “dismissed and they are marginalized” by the Republican establishment, “they are going to be much less enthused and much less willing to put it all on the line for the GOP candidate in the general election.”

“We can’t afford to have low voter turnout in the general election, and that is all the more reason for Romney to really start connecting more with conservatives,” she said.

Though she has spoken warmly about both Gingrich and Santorum, she said she was still making up her mind about which candidate to support.

Her Fox News contract does not prohibit her from weighing in on the presidential race, she said.

Palin said she would not encourage any of the candidates to drop out of the race, saying it’s “not yet” time for Gingrich to step aside and allow Santorum to rally the conservative vote.

She also welcomed the possibility of a brokered convention in Tampa.

“I don’t think that it would be a negative for the party, a brokered convention,” she said. “And people who start screaming that a brokered convention is the worst thing for the GOP, they have an agenda. They have their own personal or political reasons for their own candidate, who they would like to see protected away from a brokered convention. That’s part of the competition, that’s part of the process. And it may happen.”

soundoff(603 Responses)

I can see Russia from my house

Palin is at CPAC? Who is keeping an eye out for Russian planes trying to secretly enter the country via Alaska?

February 11, 2012 08:15 pm at 8:15 pm |

jam8canpops

When is this irrelevant bimbo going to shut her trap?All she has is verbal diarrhea.She has no business giving advise to anyone.She has and will always be a failure.This woman spews so much fecal material the place stinks.She just needs to fade away like a foul smelling f..t

February 11, 2012 08:16 pm at 8:16 pm |

trick

ROMNEY WON CPAC THE MOST CONSERVATIVE GROUP ,thats proof he the most conservative than others only Hype from media obama super PAC and his rivals .

Santorum far more more liberal for spending in his fiscal record BIG EARMARKS and BIG GOVERMENT than Mitt.

Mitt Romeny The most Conservative Bussinessman Leader , Democrat will make US population becoming bottom feeder welfare spending trilyuns borrow and taxes to buying vote .obama does't care not his money as long he got big 747

February 11, 2012 08:20 pm at 8:20 pm |

Keith A. Sillsbury

failin palin also said god wanted her to win and we all know how that ended.

February 11, 2012 08:22 pm at 8:22 pm |

David

O.k. Sarah. You are cute and live in a beautiful state. Live long and be happy. Politics made you some money, but geez Louise, can't you tell it's time to flip the flapjack?

February 11, 2012 08:23 pm at 8:23 pm |

hwy9

Palin is one of the most divisive, vicious, narcissistic airheads ever to come into the political national spotlight – through the back door. I blame her, Rove, Faux Nous and the 3 Horsemen of the GOP in Congress – Cantor, Boehner and McConnell for the bringing us the hatred that divides our nation. Someone said she was cute – you can't be that filled with hatred and be cute.

February 11, 2012 08:24 pm at 8:24 pm |

joe

She's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

February 11, 2012 08:25 pm at 8:25 pm |

pkbkr

Everytime this woman opens her mouth she comfirms her stupidity! PLEASE go back to Alaska and make moose stew or whatever it is you CAN do, though even that is doubtful! Just go away!

February 11, 2012 08:27 pm at 8:27 pm |

FRANK FROM LAS VEGAS

“I wasn’t quite sure what the word 'severely' meant,” Palin said. One of several hundred thousand that Half Gov. Palin know. Why does anyone care what this never was been thinks or says. This is what the GOP is proud of?!? If she wasn't paid by Fox No News this woman would never be heard from again.

February 11, 2012 08:28 pm at 8:28 pm |

David

This coming from a "conservative" quitter...

February 11, 2012 08:28 pm at 8:28 pm |

Hali

I just can't stand this woman! What is it about her that makes me nauseated and want me to punch her in the face? Is it the way she talks, or is what she says doesn't make any sense yet draws applauds from her audience? I just wish CNN stops putting her name on its front page.

February 11, 2012 08:35 pm at 8:35 pm |

Tam

OOOH, Sarah has spoken. Mitt better worry. Hah! Wondering – just how many Americans think like Palin and her bunch, and Santrorums, compared to normal everyday people? Well, people did vote for Bush twice, so...... But she is definitely a hoot. And a legend in her own mind, and in minds of those who still contribute to her.

February 11, 2012 08:37 pm at 8:37 pm |

Donald in CA

Palin would be the last person i would listen to. McCain did and we see what the right wing retoric got him. He ended up pitiful and begging her to help him get reelected. If i was McCain i would have retired rather then becomming a far right wing fool.

February 11, 2012 08:38 pm at 8:38 pm |

Tam

RR – Sarah Palin is a 25 watt lightbulb in a 100 watt world.

She's barely a night-light.

February 11, 2012 08:39 pm at 8:39 pm |

Dave

SHUT UP Sarah Palin!

February 11, 2012 08:40 pm at 8:40 pm |

Nu AmerkiA

Romney and Obama are two sides of the same coin. They say whatever for their cooperate handlers and could careless about America. I wished liberals would take the wool off their eyes just because he's charismatic. You know German's were entranced by their leader at one time because they thought he was charismatic. The same reasons I couldn't stand Bush is why I can not stand Obama, in fact he's worse even the ACLU would agree. How can anybody with 1/2 a brain that thought Bush was bad still want to support this man? Wake up people, stop allowing your government play you, this goes for conservatives also who like Santorum and Gingrich, are you kidding me? I'm not putting no trust in Dr. Paul neither but still he's the only one saying the truth.

February 11, 2012 08:42 pm at 8:42 pm |

Jack MacDougal

That woman operates on a level of consciousness that is so low it's remarkable. She's one of the most ignorant people in the history of American politics.

February 11, 2012 08:43 pm at 8:43 pm |

joel palmer

Getting advice from Sarah Palin is like being nibbled to death by ducks

February 11, 2012 08:45 pm at 8:45 pm |

joel palmer

not terribly painful, really annoying and ultimately fatal

February 11, 2012 08:45 pm at 8:45 pm |

Charlie in Maine

Thanks alot John McCain. She is the gift that keeps on givin.

February 11, 2012 08:45 pm at 8:45 pm |

Eirik

So, Palin seems to like Santorum and Gingridge but not Rommney. I like Rommney better now!

February 11, 2012 08:46 pm at 8:46 pm |

avdspm

right... like anyone in their right mind would take advice from Sarah Palin. Hey Sarah... how about you figure out what newspapers you read and memorize things instead of writing them on your hand before you try and give advice to someone else.

February 11, 2012 08:46 pm at 8:46 pm |

Kane

It's sad...the conversation is always "We have to beat the other guy's candidate" instead of "Who would be the best choice to lead our country?" Why is it "Us vs Them" when it should be "We the People"?

February 11, 2012 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

fale

Mrs palin please , just disappear . Your 15 minutes of fame is OVER .

February 11, 2012 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

Don

Palin, get over yourself, you are history. Move on. You carry no weight and have no brain. You are the last person that should be talking. Shut up and enjoy your free millions, and your Alaska.